Chapter 10

EP.10 Underground Base

"Ugh... Ughhh..."

"Bro, don't make weird noises."

"Bad guy. Big bro is suffering so much, and you can't even comfort me."

"......Stop calling me 'big bro.' Anyway, you should lie down and rest. Why are you being so dramatic?"

Se-eun's gaze, which looked at me with disdain, made me feel like I was about to cry. No, I really am in pain, okay?

This place is deep underground somewhere in Seoul.

It's the underground base of Han Se-eun, a genius hacker and a genius scientist who can make anything. Of course, she's still just a middle school third-year student.

As soon as I teleported here after thwarting the terrorist attack by my followers, I collapsed again. Teleporting continuously is exhausting. And it's even worse because this place is so deep underground...

But this time, I'm in the fatigue recovery capsule Se-eun made, so it's definitely less painful. Still, if you had this, why didn't you tell me yesterday? I was unconscious all day yesterday.

Moreover, this time I didn't just teleport myself; I brought another person along, which made it twice as tiring.

Fortunately, there's this fatigue recovery capsule Se-eun made, or I would have really collapsed.

"Ugh, so... Why did you bring this person here?"

I pointed to the woman sitting in the chair.

She flinched and made a 'huh' sound, surprised to be the center of attention.

She sat there with her long black hair hanging down, looking around cautiously like a mouse. It was a bit pitiful.

With her beauty, she almost looked like a tragic heroine.

She was the only one among the eight followers I decided to keep alive.

Actually, I kept her alive to give her to the Hero Association and Stardust as a gift, but I just brought her here on Se-eun's advice.

"Ah."

Se-eun, who had been busy with something on the computer screen, turned her chair to face us.

Se-eun looked at her and asked, "Sister... no, Unnie. Unnie, are you Lee Su-bin?"

"Uh, uh. But how did you know?"

"I know everything."

Se-eun said this coolly, but if you look closely, her nose seemed a bit higher than usual?

It's cute when she talks like that. I can't help but smile like a dad.

So her name is Lee Su-bin. Thinking about it, I didn't even know her name. Lee Su-bin. It's a very common name.

"Okay, so Se-eun? Why did you bring this Lee Su-bin, who claims to be my follower, here?"

As I spoke, she flinched again.

No, how could someone so timid carry out a terrorist attack?

Her eyes were already welling up with tears, which was quite unsettling.

"Ah, I wanted to ask for your help."

Se-eun said this casually.

Wait, help? You?

Se-eun's words not only surprised me but also Lee Su-bin. What's going on all of a sudden?

"Wait... Se-eun. I don't understand. So you kidnapped a terrorist you just met today and suddenly want her to help you? Um... well... wouldn't it be faster for you to get stabbed in your sleep by her?"

I heard her say 'I won't stab you...' from behind, but I ignored it. This is a harsh and unforgiving ego-based world. The quiet ones don't survive.

"Ha, that's not it."

"What's not it? Se-eun, you're still in middle school, so maybe you don't understand the world. You can't just kidnap someone and expect them to work quietly. They'll hold a grudge. They'll either steal all your information and run or seek revenge. I don't even know how you plan to help her."

I felt someone behind me shaking their head and saying 'I won't betray you...' but I ignored it. It was actually said, but I pretended not to hear.

Se-eun just sighed at my long speech. No, this kid? I need to give her a stern lecture as a dad.

Just as I was about to start my speech, Se-eun spoke.

"Unnie. Lee Su-bin Unnie."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Unnie's parents were researchers at Han Group, right?"

At that moment, the color drained from Lee Su-bin's face.

Her face turned pale in an instant.

"No, no, that's not true..." she started to deny, but Se-eun just smiled bitterly.

"Unnie, don't you want revenge on Han Group, those bastards?"

"Uh...?"

"Unnie's parents didn't die in that 'tragedy,' did they?"

Se-eun's words made Lee Su-bin's face stiffen.

I was about to scold Se-eun for slipping and calling her 'unnie,' but when Han Group and the 'tragedy' were mentioned, I started to listen seriously.

"I've read what you wrote on the deep web. You hate Han Group, right? You said you want to kill them all."

"How... how did you know?"

"How did I know? Your blocking program had a lot of holes. I need to make a new one."

Se-eun, who had risen from her seat, approached Lee Su-bin and firmly held her hand.

It was a bit funny that the seated Lee Su-bin was taller than standing Se-eun, but this was a serious moment, so I didn't say anything.

"I'm looking for the leaders of Han Group. They ruined my life. I want to find them and kill them all. I need to do this to avenge myself."

"Unnie, will you help me?"

Se-eun's words ended, and Lee Su-bin, tears streaming down her face, clasped Se-eun's hand.

"Okay, I'll, I'll help you!"

"Thank you, Unnie."

Then, they hugged each other.

Wow...

The white-haired Se-eun and the black-haired Lee Su-bin hugging each other looked like a black-and-white painting.

Am I... am I the only one who can't follow their emotions?

What are they suddenly doing? They exchanged a few words and then hugged and cried...

Watching the two women hug, I, the only man, just lay there awkwardly.

What is this...?

***

Lee Su-bin.

Graduated from Seoul National University's Computer Science Department.

25 years old, the same age as me.

Lived on welfare after both her parents passed away when she was young.

Studied computers intensively at home like a hikikomori since middle school, making her computer skills top-notch.

How top-notch? She can understand everything Se-eun says.

I can't understand anything.

Her main activity was providing cyberterrorism services on the deep web to make a living.

The reason she joined the terrorist attack as my follower this time was...

"What? By accident?"

"Yes... In the chat room, they were saying how great Ego-Stick is... and I just wanted to join in..."

"......"

What? So, you're not really my follower?

I looked at her fidgeting in her seat.

Lee Su-bin. Despite her seemingly kind name, she looks a bit scary in person.

With her long black hair and tall stature, she looks like a fierce delinquent from school days when she's expressionless.

...But somehow, despite her appearance, she's...

"You don't have any friends?"

"Yes... I mostly stayed at home and only went to school enough to graduate..."

"......"

Why do I feel like I'm about to cry?

Overall, she seemed harmless.

Of course, there were still suspicious points.

First, she has never appeared in the world I'm in, the [Stardust!] manga.

Not appearing means she doesn't have a significant impact.

She's just an extra, like me.

"Understood. Welcome to our crew, Lee Su-bin."

"Yes... Yes!"

I shook her hand.

When she accidentally bit her tongue while speaking and blushed, I decided to pretend not to notice.

"...When did we become a crew?"

I ignored Se-eun's muttering from behind.

Now we're three people, so we're a crew!

***

Lee Su-bin moved her belongings to the underground base and decided to live here.

She would live and learn with Se-eun, collaborating and whatnot.

Se-eun explained that it's better to do this to avoid drawing attention if she comes and goes frequently.

...But honestly, I'm worried.

If she were a character I knew from the original, it would be different.

Putting someone whose true character and intentions I don't know next to our Se-eun? I'm afraid something will happen.

That's why I moved my home to this underground base.

I gave Se-eun a different reason, but she seemed to understand my concern.

But why is she doing this?

Does she know Su-bin?

In this deep underground place, the cohabitation of Han Se-eun, Lee Su-bin, and me began.

With one man and two women living together, it's a bit unusual.

Se-eun is a middle school student, and Su-bin is... well, definitely a beauty, but there's no problem.

My heart is always with Shin Haeul from Stardust. I promised myself when I came to this world that I would live this life for her.

Of course, the day I'll be with her will never come. Haha.

So, I started living here.

Living with others is more lively and fun than living alone.

"Bro, you left the fridge door open. The ice cream will melt!"

"Me? Hey, I didn't open the fridge door!"

"Se-eun, I think I left it open. Sorry...."

"Ah! It's okay, Unnie! Everyone makes mistakes. Hehe."

"...When I thought I did it, you were so angry."

"......"

It's so sad.